Bacon is salt-cured, thinly cut pork from either the belly or back of a pig. Bacon is a staple in many Western diets and well loved for it’s salty taste. A versatile meat, it can be served crispy or chewy, on its own, as a flavour addition to dishes, on wraps and sandwiches and even on desserts. Bacon may be delicious and high in protein, but it is a processed meat high in fat, salt and cholesterol, which has been linked to heart disease. The fat in bacon is on average 40% is saturated fat and it contains nitrates and nitrites, which when cooked turn into carcinogens, which have been linked to an increased risk for various types of cancer.
Health concerns are one reason people may look for bacon substitutes. People who follow halal or kosher diets for religious reasons are not able to eat bacon. And of course, those who follow a vegetarian, vegan or peascaterian diet do not eat meat and will want meat-free bacon alternatives.
Bacon Substitutes: The Official Top 7 Alternatives
From vegetarian bacon substitutes to other meats, try these bacon swaps.
- by
Lottie Dalziel